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Abstract:

The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a sculpted mabe pearl
comprising: --a step of positioning, beneath the cover of a mollusk, a
dome-shaped nucleus having a sculpted relief, and--a step of immersing
the mollusk provided with its nucleus in sea water for a specific period.
The invention is characterized in that the step of positioning is
preceded by a step of sculpture modifying the relief of said nucleus,
involving reducing the height of the relief on the zone or zones of the
nucleus that have planar surfaces or concave surfaces to be accentuated.

Claims:

1. (canceled)

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. Nucleus for the manufacturing of a mabe, the nucleus having a
dome-shaped surface having a sculptured relief consisting in sculptures
and wherein said sculptures are bas-relief accompanying the hemispherical
shape of the dome representing a sculptured subject such a face.

8. Method of manufacturing a sculptured mabe pearl, said method
comprising:a step of positioning, under the mantle of a mollusc, a
sculptured nucleus according to claim 7, anda step of immersing the
mollusc provided with said sculptured nucleus in sea water for a given
period.

9. Method according to claim 8, wherein the step immersing the mullusc
provided with its sculptured nucleus in sea water is preceded by a step
of immersion in a stimulating solution of Morinda Citrifolia fruit juice
and sea water.

10. Method according to claim 9, wherein the stimulating solution is
composed of at least 20 centilitres of Morinda Citrifolia juice for 100
litres of sea water.

11. Method according to claim 9, wherein the step of immersion in the said
solution lasts for one day.

12. Method according to claim 8, wherein the step of immersion in sea
water lasts for 3 to 6 months, preferably 3 to 4 months.

Description:

[0001]The method concerns the manipulation of molluscs producing a pearly
layer after insertion of a hemispherical nucleus with elaborate fine
sculptures in order to obtain, after four to six months of incubation,
the formation of a pearly protuberance against the internal wall of the
shell, with the imposed shapes and sculptured reliefs imposed by the
nucleus in the regularity of the covering by the pearly layer and
complying with the proportions of the sculpturing.

[0002]Up until now, grafts were carried out in pearl oysters in order to
product cultured pearls. The technique used for grafting pearls consists
of taking, from a young and healthy sacrificed oyster, a large part of
the mantle that secretes the nacre. This membrane is cut into fine strips
that are then divided into small squares, constituting the grafts. The
nucleus (core of flint or hard rock) is implanted in the pearl pouch with
a graft. The animal is stimulated, and reacts by surrounding the
intruding object with a pearly layer. The pearls produced by the
artificial introduction of a nucleus are known by the term "cultured
pearls". There also exist half pearls or pearls generally known by the
term "mabe" and which are more accurately "composed pearls". The top part
of the mabe pearl is a protuberance obtained by fixing inside the shells
of the mollusc (rather than in the body of the mollusc) hemispherical
nuclei having a flat face and a dome with a smooth surface without relief
that is not too high to allow the closure of the valves after the
intervention.

[0003]The operation consists of partially lifting the mantle of the animal
and inserting therein one or more nuclei (on average three) in order to
bond them in each valve. The nuclei, moulded from a plastics
material--generally polycarbonate--may have different sizes and different
shapes such as round, teardrop, heart, oval. After the nuclei have been
inserted, the mollusc is put back in sea water for a period of six to
eight months and its mantle gradually resumes its original position and
begins to deposit a pearly layer around the foreign bodies. The closer
the nucleus is to the rim of the shell, the more likely its covering is
to be covered but the less will the initial shape of the nucleus be
followed. In this way the formation of the mabe pearl occurs in the
mollusc. The final operation consists of the lustering of the mabe pearl
and in some cases the sculpturing of patterns on the dome of the mabe
pearl, a meticulous operation that requires great dexterity of the
engraver having regard to the thinness of the pearly layer.

[0004]The same method is used for the introduction of a nucleus whose
surface is roughly sculptured, or the designs of which are fixed in
relief with a metalised wire on the surface of the nucleus. If the
overall shape of the mabe pearl is influenced by the matrix constituted
by the nucleus, the irregularity on the covering on the dome of the
nucleus considerably modifies the design within the valve. The range of
shapes and reliefs is therefore fairly wide and very often sculptured
silhouettes with coarse lines lacking elaboration are often obtained. The
art of subsequently modifying the imperfections by removal of material
using grinding then falls to the craftsman.

[0005]The method submitted today allows this sculptured and elaborate
appearance of the nacre, whatever the fineness of the sculpturing,
without the subsequent intervention of man on the mabe pearl, and
following the proportions of the sculpture.

[0006]The phenomenon of biomineralisation (the process responsible for the
formation of a pearly layer) takes place on the nacre after the
introduction of a half stone (or hemispherical nucleus) finely sculptured
on its dome-shaped face.

[0007]This stone, made from granite, plastic, bone or any other material
that can be borne by the animal, is inserted in the animal. The sculpting
of the inserted nucleus must be scrupulous and comply with the rules for
the depth of the hollows and height of the reliefs in order to allow
regular covering of the nucleus by the pearly layer.

[0008]The dome-shaped surface of the nucleus has sculptures in bas-relief
accompanying the hemispherical shape of the dome of the nucleus, the
sculptured subject standing out delicately from the surface. The
sculptures cover the entire nucleus and have edges projecting to a
greater or lesser extent, undulations and flat surfaces according to the
subject.

[0009]For example, on the dome of an oval-shaped nucleus 30 mm wide by 40
mm long and 5 mm high, a base 1 mm high is defined where the sculpture of
a face will commence.

[0010]If this sculptured face on the dome, compliant with proportions,
were introduced as it stood into the animal, the covering with a pearly
layer would be distributed unequally over the nucleus and we would obtain
hollow surfaces covered to greater and lesser extents, excessively thick
flat surfaces and excessively fine convex surfaces. The results thus
obtained are very haphazard and uncertain. They very often consist of
shapeless masses that no longer follow the original design, or cover it
in an irregular manner.

[0011]The pearly layer progresses from the external edges of the nucleus
towards the centre of the nucleus. Its progression is accelerated on the
surfaces close to the edge of the shell but is slowed down on the
opposite surfaces, towards the inside of the shell, until it has a total
cover varying from 0.5 to 0.8 mm of pearly layer. The following are thus
found: [0012]first finding: the pearly layer progresses more rapidly on
the surfaces of the nucleus situated close to the edge of the shell of
the mollusc; these surfaces are the first covered. [0013]second finding:
the other surfaces situated on the edges of the nucleus, close to the
shell of the mollusc, constitute the base of the dome; lower, they will
then be the following covered with nacre; [0014]third finding: the
diffusion of pearly layer is more rapid on flat surfaces, that is to say
surfaces without details; [0015]fourth finding: the higher the surfaces,
the less quickly the covering with nacre occurs; [0016]fifth finding: the
surfaces situated in the central part, which also concentrate the most
reliefs and hollows on the nucleus, are less quickly covered.

[0017]On the basis of these findings, it then becomes necessary to
pronounce certain aspects of the sculpturing on the dome, sculpturing
that must strictly comply with the heights and depths taking these
parameters into consideration.

[0018]As an example, in order to obtain even covering of the face of Mary
Magdalene, the lines of her face are reproduced in compliance with the
proportions on a dome to the required formats.

[0019]Here are the modifications made to the original mould with regard
to: [0020]the surface of the nucleus situated as close as possible to
the edge of the shell of the mollusc: the hair of Mary Magdalene is
oriented and placed as close as possible to the edge of the shell since
it has undulations that do not require very detailed sculptures. The
whole of the hair of Mary Magdalene is lowered by 0.2 mm since the
covering of the surface is accelerated and greater. And if it had been
wished to further mark the design of the hair, it would have been
necessary to also lower each hollow by an additional 0.1 mm;
[0021]surfaces situated on the edges of the nucleus, close to the mollusc
shell, the base surrounding the sculptured face will be quickly covered
with a pearly layer; we choose to maintain its height; [0022]a flat
surface on the edge of the nucleus: Mary Magdalene's bust is lowered by
0.1 mm in order to raise the fold of her dress; [0023]a central flat
surface: the surface of the neck and nape is lowered by 0.1 mm in order
to mark the distinction with the collar and the slightly more curved
shoulder; [0024]a hollow surface on the neck of the nucleus: the hollows
of the rose situated under Mary Magdalene's chin will be lowered by 0.1
mm in order to balance the slower covering of the petals in relief;
[0025]a central hollow surface: the space under the chin must be more
pronounced and the height of the chin will therefore be maintained but
the surface situated under the chin will be reduced by 0.1 mm; Mary
Magdalene's temples will be lowered by 0.1 mm in order to put her hair in
relief; [0026]a convex surface: the necklace, the petals of the flower
and the folds of the dress keep their heights.

[0027]Consequently, whether they be situated on the central part or on the
edges of the nucleus, the convex surfaces will be the last covered and
are not modified. On the other hand, it is the flat or hollow surfaces
that surround these reliefs that will have to be reduced by 0.1 mm to 0.2
mm according to their situation or representation in order to mark the
differences in height.

[0028]These modifications in sculpturing can be executed by hand with an
electric miller or by means of a laser appliance capable of modelling a
sculpture or remodelling an original sculpture to within a tenth of a
millimetre.

[0029]It is important to fix these sculpturing rules precisely since each
tenth of a millimetre counts in the mollusc. The skilled eye of a
specialist will, in the light of these data, be able to define the
specificities of each pattern.

[0030]The molluscs are chosen according to two criteria: their overall
state of health and the internal shells producing a pearly layer having a
sufficiently broad and coloured band of colour.

[0031]For example, a pearl oyster meeting these criteria is half opened by
means of a separator and the mantle of the animal partially raised. The
stone finely sculptured in relief (eg the face of Mary Magdalene) is
delicately introduced into the oyster and is bonded under the mantle of
the animal at the point where the shell has interesting coloured
iridescent reflections. The oysters are closed again and, for one day,
immersed in a solution of sea water and fruit juice of pure Morinda
Citrifolia, referred to as "noni". Noni is a plant from tropical regions,
now presented to the general public as a health-food supplement for
humans, which we shall apply here to the animal species. The most
important element of "noni" is a large molecule called proxeronine. This
molecule, assisted by an enzyme called proxeroninase present in the
tissues of the mollusc, wall manufacture xeronine by a very complex
transformation method. The xeronine combines with the proteins of the
mollusc, responsible for the structure of the cells of the animal. These
proteins will allow the passage of important nutriments into the cells
and act as an antibody for maintaining the immune system.

[0032]The xeronine thus fulfils an absolutely vital role at the protein
and cell level; it has an enormous capacity to stimulate and reinforce
the immune system among numerous other functions. Xeronine stimulates the
mollusc, which accelerates the production of nacre and allows its even
fixing on the sculptured nucleus.

[0033]The animal uses this element according to its requirements and what
is not used is quite simply eliminated. This is because xeronine is a
very unstable chemical compound that degrades and becomes without effect
when it is not used.

[0034]The mixture submits a dosage of 20 centilitres of fruit juice of
Morinda Citrifolia for 100 litres of seawater; this ratio allows a
greater quantity of fruit juice of Morinda Citrifolia through the ability
of xeronine to disintegrate naturally. On the other hand, reducing this
quantity of juice does not guarantee success.

[0035]The reclosed oyster is then put back in the sea. At the end of three
to six months, preferably three to four months, the results are optimal
with a success rate of 70% to 80%. The 20% to 30% failure rate is
distributed between the natural death of oysters, rejection of the
nucleus by the oysters at the start of the process and irregular covering
of the nucleus by the pearly layer.

[0036]The oyster is taken out of the water in order to be processed. The
phenomenon of biomineralisation has taken place: the inserted object is
covered with a layer of calcium carbonate in the form of aragonite and
calcite, a mixture called nacre. The stone has achieved a covering with a
thickness varying between 0.5 and 0.8 mm and reveals the hollows and
reliefs of the sculptured stone in compliance with the proportions.

[0037]In conclusion, compliance with the sculpture parameters for the
nucleus (to allow regularity of covering by the pearl layer) combined
with the addition of xeronine in the animal (in order to stimulate and
reinforce the immune system of the mollusc) will allow production of
finely sculptured mabe pearl in compliance with the proportions.

[0038]With the animal removed, the fashioned mabe pearl is harvested and
cut by means of a diamond saw and the initial nucleus removed. The nacre,
thus sculptured and fashioned, can then be used as a jewel or objet
d'art.

[0039]The accompanying figures illustrate the various steps of insertion
and recovery of the sculptured nucleus (FIGS. 1 to 5) and the Magdalene
sculpture covered with nacre (FIGS. 6 and 7):

[0040]FIG. 1 depicts an open oyster and the main elements making it up:
shell, pearly area, mantle, pearl pouch,

[0041]FIG. 2 shows the raised mantle revealing the pearly area,

[0042]in FIG. 3, a sculptured nucleus is delicately introduced and bonded
under the mantle,

[0043]FIG. 4 illustrates the nacre after six months: the pearly layer has
covered the sculptured stone, following its shapes and reliefs in
compliance with the proportions,

[0044]the animal has been removed in FIG. 2 and the sculptured nacre can
be cut,

[0045]FIG. 6 is a photograph of a sculptured mabe pearl of Mary Magdalene
in a valve of its oyster shell,

[0046]FIG. 7 is a photograph showing the same mabe pearl enlarged 10 times
and the details of the sculpture, which reveal the reliefs and hollows of
the face of Mary Magdalene in compliance with the proportions and the
exceptional iridescent colours of the nacre.